NORTHWAY HOUSE

It was important to design a home that would appeal to a broad market and provide a modern appeal. A home that does not look from the outset that it is radically different from what would ‘normally’ be found in a new residential estate.

This design deliberately considers passive solar design principles with living zones having a northern aspect that optimises daylight to create a comfortable and healthy environment for people to live. The position of the house also optimises the site’s potential to provide functional outdoor spaces where the occupants can connect to nature.

The expectations of the consumer were carefully considered, and although particular design features such as the ‘wow factor’ of the cathedral ceiling to the living zone, carpet to bedrooms and a double garage may add to the overall carbon footprint, achieving a design to appeal to a wide audience was also important. The carefully designed spaces of this home are of a practical size, attempting to minimise wasted space such as hallways, while still achieving a feeling of luxury that people expect.

Zoning allows parents to have a separate retreat with the ability to close off the rear bedroom wing when not in use or when children ‘leave the nest’. The design is a step in the right direction to improve sustainability and with the use of photovoltaic solar to offset carbon emissions, Northway House is beyond Net Zero and it will have longevity in its design appeal and durability to last generations.

Designer: Jessica Northway, Northway Design

Assessor: Jessica Northway, Northway Design

Project cost estimate: $450,000

House size: 179.6 sqm

Energy rating: 7.9 stars

Liveable Housing design principles, particularly for accessibility, have been considered, with doors to the main bedroom and facilities being 920mm wide. Passages have also been sufficiently widened to increase accessibility if needed at different life stages allowing people to stay in their homes for longer. Other elements of the home could easily be upgraded when required such as ramps and a screenless shower.

The garden area is significant, with substantial native landscaping to minimise maintenance. Vegetable gardens are provided with access to northern light, enabling the occupants ample opportunity to grow their own produce, to thrive and live a holistically sustainable life.

Northway House has highly desirable and liveable features, with modern design elements that fit beautifully within the suburban landscape. The building is designed to be relatively low-maintenance and will only improve with age as it settles into the surrounding native garden. The natural light and ventilation within the home and its connection to the outdoors will help its occupants thrive. The spaces may be smaller than recent trends, but completely sufficient, and with people taking an interest in quality of life rather than quantity, we will see this design as a ‘must have’ trend now and in the future.

A thoughtful, architecturally designed layout provides the occupants of Naarm House comfort as a pleasant home to live in all year. Occupants are shielded from the hustle and bustle of city living by the insulation and well-sealed windows providing an acoustic barrier.

Naarm House provides affordable, practical living without sacrificing important aesthetics by including high ceilings and light-filled, open-plan living. It has been designed with passive design principles and the study at the front of the home provides desirable passive surveillance to the street. Consideration was made for the liveability of the house long term and includes provisions to enable a family to age in place.

A very comfortable home to live in, the water efficient Naarm House makes provision for the optimisation of waste management and the organic vegetable garden attracts native fauna to the property. Solar photovoltaic panels have been installed on the roof allowing the all-electric home to eliminate the need to use gas.

A Colorbond roof was selected instead of tiles due to its lower embodied energy and recycled/reclaimed bricks were used for an internal non-load bearing thermal mass wall. Naarm House uses exposed polished concrete which is not only aesthetically pleasing but increases heat absorption while waffle pods provide ample insulation.

Designer: Paul Youngs, Woodend Buiding Design

Assessor: Jacob Edwards, Briar Gunther, Birwa

Thakkar, Frater Consulting Services

Project cost estimate: $620,000

House size: 199 sqm

Energy rating: 7.8 stars

Locally manufactured tilt and turn windows framed by timber for lower embodied energy and a very low U-value ensure a well-sealed residence. The structure of Naarm House has been designed using a timber frame, and low VOC paint on the internal walls reduces indoor pollution by limiting the off-gassing of volatile organic compounds.

All lighting throughout Naarm House has been carefully considered and LED lights have been used to reduce energy and improve longevity by lowering the embodied carbon. Use of surface-mounted and pendant lighting was favoured over recessed downlights to help ease construction and reduce energy loss through ceiling penetrations.